Colts first round picks all over the map in latest mock drafts

The Indianapolis Colts won’t be on the clock for months, but we have new mock drafts attempting to fill the needs on the team’s roster.

The Colts hold the 18th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. They have needs on both sides of the ball and only a small few positions that don’t need any attention. Today, we have mock drafts that address both the offensive and defensive lines, as well as running back.

Over at Sports Illustrated, Chris Burke has the Colts picking Michigan State lineman Jack Conklin. Here’s what he had to say about the pick:

"Something about this fit has made it an easy one to make in our recent mocks. Perhaps it’s that the Colts have no choice but to upgrade their offensive line after a miserable 2015 season. Or, perhaps it’s that Conklin has the wherewithal to start as a rookie at either guard or tackle."

Conklin certainly seems like a good fit for the Colts, especially if they view him as a guard. All the draft profiles list his pass protection as the least effective part of his game, but not a negative. He’s a very good blocker, but better when it comes to run blocker. Conklin also might have an issue with elite speed rushers in the NFL, and at right tackle he’d have to deal with J.J. Watt twice a season.

Conklin seems like a better fit at guard for the Colts, but if he shows he can play right tackle then Joe Reitz can move to right guard which is a better spot for him. If the Colts want to go with an offensive lineman, Conklin would be a great choice.

Over at CBS Sports, Rob Rang and Dane Brugler have updated their mock drafts.

Rang has the Colts taking Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Here are his thoughts on the pick:

"Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: Along with the healthy return of Andrew Luck, the Colts need reinforcements throughout a run defense that allowed an average of 122 yards in 2015, 25th in the NFL. Rankins’ quick burst and active, powerful hands make him an effective interior pass rusher – an area the Colts were especially lacking last season."

This is a really flawed analysis. The Colts will get Henry Anderson back from injury (and presumably Art Jones) and the run defense will be fine. If the Colts are looking to address the defense, they have to find an edge rusher not a stout run stopper.

Rankins has some raw skills as a pass rusher up the middle, but he needs some work in that regard. The Colts might not seem completely set on the defensive line, but they certainly have a lot of young talent at the position. Rankins takes a lot of heat for not being big enough to play that nose tackle position the Colts might be looking for as well (although David Parry showed enough in his rookie year to make one think they’re fine with the defensive line).

Rankins might be talented, but there’s no guarantee he’d even start on the line and the Colts should really be looking for a day one starter with the 18th pick.

Brugler has the Colts taking Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. Here’s his analysis:

"Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: Indianapolis needs to improve the offensive and defensive lines, but the Colts have surprised in the first round the past few years and could again this year. Elliott isn’t quite on the Todd Gurley level, but he’s a complete back and will greatly help Andrew Luck and the passing game."

There is a good chance the Colts take a running back sometime in this draft, but there is no way it should be in the first round. Elliott is a great talent, but doesn’t fit the need in the first round. That said, he would be a very good pick for the Colts and is almost exactly the kind of running back the team needs. It also helps that a number of draft profiles compare him to Edgerrin James.

Elliott has the versatility to fill the role that Ahmad Bradshaw played: a pass catching back who makes the team more efficient in the red zone.

If there is a knock on Elliott, it’s that he’s had over 600 touches the past couple seasons and doesn’t do enough to avoid contact. Every running back seems to have only so many carries and touches in their body and Elliott might hit that sooner than most (especially if he doesn’t learn to avoid big hits).

None of these picks address the crucial need of the Colts to find a pass rusher, something that would help their defense more than any secondary or line help. We’ll keep looking through draft profiles to find the perfect fits for the Colts with the 18th pick.